Vinegar-generator.



N0. 799,832. PATENTED SEPT. 19, 1905. A. GOULOMBE 62 E. LAOROIX. VINEGAR GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 1805.

' Inventor;

Attorney's UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR COULOMBE AND ELOYDAS LACROIX, OF WOONSOCKET, RHODE ISLAND.

VlNEGAR-GENERATOR.

To all 1071,0111, it may concern.-

Be it known that W6,\ARTHUR CoULoMBn and ELcYDAs LAoRoIX, subjects of the King of Great Britain, residing at Woonsocket, county of Providence, State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vinegar-Generators; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which 1 it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in vinegar-generating apparatus; and it consists in certain features of novelty relating to the construction and operation thereof, whereby an efficient and economical device for the purpose described is provided, which is simple, durable, and economical in construction, and which may be used foran indefinite period without danger of rusting.

The object of the invention is to provide means whereby vinegar may be produced from an alcohol mixture, which passes into the generating apparatus, hereinafter described, and passes from a higher to a lower plane therein, preferably in a thin sheet, which is exposed to the action of oxygen admitted to the interior of the generator for the purpose of producing the vinegar.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken approximately centrally through the generating apparatus forming the subject-matter of this invention and through a fragment of an elevated tank, in which may be placed the mixture of alcohol and sour beer which is used in manufacturing the vinegar. Fig. 2is a transverse sectional view on line 2 2 of the complete apparatus. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken relatively on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is adetached detail of one of the shelves hereinafter referred to, and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view illustrating the connection between the clamping-bars hereinafter described.

Referring to the parts, 1 refers to the easing of the generator, which casing comprises the side plates or boards 2, a bottom plate 3,

withthe top plate 5, which plates are prefer-' ably formed of wood, and are held in position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, by means of the binding-timbers 6 and 7, which are united,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 22, 1905. Serial No. 261,701.

Patented Sept. 19, 1905.

the transversely-extending cleats or ledges 10,

so as to be removable when desired. Above the bottom plate there are arranged a series of obliquely and oppositely disposed shelves 12. Said shelves are supported upon and preferably connected to the wedge-shaped supporting-plates 13, arranged in pairs at the ends of said shelves to form supports therefor, there being a space 1 1 between the lower end portion of each shelf 12 and the side wall adjacent thereto. The shelves 12 are provided with transversely-extending shallow channels 15, formed in the upper face thereof, while perforations 16 are provided in the material of the plates 12 between said channels 15.

The walls of the generator-case are perforated, as shown at 17, for the admission of oxygen, and extending upwardly and relatively from the central portion of the generator-case is a tube 18, as shown, which tube communicates with the interior of the generator-case and leads to atmosphere. In addition to the tube 18 there is provided a second tube 19, in which is positioned the dischargespout 20 of the funnel 21, there being an airspace 22 between the funnel-spout 20 and said tube 19.

Above the funnel 21 is a tank or receptacle 23, in which the alcohol solution is placed. The tank 23 is provided with a spigot 24, which is controlled by means 'of the valve 25, a second spigot 26 being located at the lower end of the generatorcase, as shown in Fig. 3.

It will be noted that in the device herewith illustrated a continuous zigzag passage is provided from the discharge-spout of the funnel to the discharge-spigot 26 at the lower end of the generator-case, and it is preferred that the angle of inclination of the shelves 12 shall be such that there shall be but a slight fall between the upper and lower ends thereof, so that the progress of the alcohol solution over such shelves shall be somewhat retarded.

The operation of the device is as follows: The apparatus being placed in the position shown in Fig. 1, the alcohol solution is admitted to the interior of the generator-case through the funnel21,-falling upon the upper shelf 12 and distributing itself overthe surface of said shelf, some of the alcohol being retained temporarily in the channels 15,with a relatively small proportion of the alcohol passing through the perforations 16 in said shelf 12, while the remainder of the alcohol passes along the entire length of said shelf and through the opening 14 onto the next lower shelf, upon which the alcohol is distributed in the same manner, passing into and past the channels 15 through perforations 16,

-&c.,' to the next lower shelf, and thus the passage of the alcohol mixture from the top to the lower portion of the generator-case progresses. Oxygen is admitted through the perforations 17, referred to, and coming-into contact with the alcohol mixture results in taken apart for cleansing when'desired and may be easily =reassembled by unskilled labor. Havlng described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a vinegar-generator, a case, a series ofoppositely and -obliquely disposed shelves having transversely-extending shallow channels formed in said shelves, with a plurality of perforations in said shelves between the channels.

'2. In a vinegar-generator, a case the inner faces of which are non-metallic, oppositelydisposed pairs of wedge-shaped supporting members, and a plurality of inclined shelves supported between the pairs of supporting members.

'3. In a vinegar-generator, a case the inner faces of which are non-metallic, oppositelydisposed pairs of wedge-shaped supporting members, anda plurality of inclined shelves supported between the pairs of supporting members, said shelves being of less length than'the supporting members.

4. Ina vinegar generator, a case the inner faces of'which are non-metallic,;oppositelydisposed pairs of wedge-shaped supporting members, anda plurality of inclined, perforated 'and channeled shelves supported between the pairs of supporting members.

5. In a'vinegar-generator, a non-metalllc,

collapsible, case, locking means therefor, and

obliquely oppositely-disposed,channeled and perforated shelves arranged'in different planes in said case, the channels extending transversely of said shelves and there being a plurality of perforations through the shelves intermediate said channels.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR oouLoMBE.

ln' ELOYDAS LAoRoIx mar Witnesses:

JOSEPH M. RovENoKER, J12, P. F. OAssInY. 

